Tyranid HQ Tactics

The Tyranid HQ Choices have been expanded inthe 2010 Tyranid codex. The Hive Tyrant is still the defacto-standard HQ choice. The Tyranid Warrior, and Genestealer Brood Lord have been move to troop choices, and some truly gigantic new monsters have been added.
The Tyranid HQ choices are the main supply of Hive Mind creatures. These are important in a Tyranid army to keep order over smaller Tyranid creatures, and over half of the choices are 'Monsterouse Creatures'. This means that the Tyranid HQ choices usually double up as heavy support too, carrying the biggest guns in the army, and possibly the biggest assault weapons (36"  S9 A1 blast) in the game!

Tyranid Hive Tyrant

The Hive Tyrant is the classic Tyranid HQ choice. It is a monstrous creature that can be configured as an assault creature, as a ranged weapon creature, or as a bit of each.

Hive Mind Powers

The Tyranid Hive Tyrant is a psychic creature. There are two lists of psychic powers available to the Hive Tyrant. The first list is a list of powers that you get included in the points cost. The second list is a list of four psychic power that you can select two included in the points cost.

The Special rules Psychic Powers

The Hive Tyrant comes with two psychic power all the time. These are 'Synapse Creature', and 'Shadow of the Warp'.

Other Psychic Powers

You are able to select two psychic powers from a list of four. These are included in the Hive Tyrant's points.

Wings

I highly recommend adding wings to the Hive Tyrant. You can add wings by mail-ordering Dragon wings from Games Workshop mail order or from Forge World. Wings are so useful that you are only allowed one winged Hive Tyrant per army.

Adding wings is so useful that you are only allowed one winged Hive Tyrant per army.

Retinue - Tyrant Guard

Tyranid Guard are highly recommended if you are not using wings on your Hive Tyrant. They increase the survivability of the Hive Tyrant, and give extra attacks if they get in to close combat.

Tyranid Swarm Lord

The Swarm lord is a Tyranid special character very much in the mode of Space Marine named characters. Because of this there are no options, you have to play the creature as you see it, and you can only have one on the table per game.

Tyranid Tervigon

Is it a monstrous creature? Is it a Synapse creature? Is it a troop carrying tank? Well the Tervigon is all three of these things and other things too.

There are no modles for Tyranid Tervigons available from Games Workshop or Forgeworld. The nearest model is the Forgeworld Scythed Hierodule. To convert this you would have to remove the big gun on it's back, add a stinger salvo instead, and add some bulk to indicate the 'Termagant sacks'.

Tyranid Tervigon as Troop Choices

Tyranid Prime

A Tyranid Prime is a bigger stronger, tougher, faster Tyranid warrior. As they are interdependent characters can act alone, or they can be attached to other squads. They are also he cheapest HQ choice.

Modelling A Tyranid Prime

Games-Workshop do not do a Tyranid Prime model. As The Tyranid Prime is a 'Larger' Tyranid Warrior, you can create one by painting a normal Tyranid Warrior slightly differently, maybe with more colours etc. Another option is to add extended carapace on the shoulders or bulk out the body using green stuff. Some players mark out their Tyranid Prime by placing it on a bigger or taller base. I think that a bigger base will have gaming negatives as it will allow your opponent to place more of his models in to close combat, and that models with larger bases can not be placed in smaller spaces.

Tyranid Parasite of Mortrex

The Parasite of Mortrex is another Tyranid special character. As such you can not change any of the weapons or special rules.

There has not been a Parasite of Mortrex model created by Games-Workshop (to my knowledge) so this is a good excuse to do some modelling of your own. your guides are the sketch and description on Page 60. Personally I would start with a Ravener body, loose two limbs, and add bat wings.

The Parasite of Mortrex Special Rules